St Neots Town cup clash to be replayed after FA investigation

St Neots Town have escaped expulsion from the FA Cup despite fielding an inelgibile player in their first qualifying round tie at Tilbury last Saturday.

The Football Association launched an investigation following the 1-1 draw with a Tuesday-night replay postponed.

The tie will now be staged again at Tilbury on Tuesday (September 22) when it will be played to a conclusion.

A statement from the FA confirmed: "The FA Cup Committee considered submissions made by St Neots Town FC in relation to a charge for the breach of FA Cup Rule 15(h) for playing an ineligible player in the first round qualifying against Tilbury FC on Saturday 12 September 2015.

"Whilst it was acknowledged that the competition rules had been breached, the Committee were satisfied with the explanation and evidence provided within the submissions from St Neots Town and decided, by exercising its discretionary power in accordance with FA Cup Rule 16(c), not to remove St Neots Town FC from the competition and ordered the tie to be replayed to a conclusion at Tilbury FC on Tuesday 22 September 2015.

"Furthermore, it was decided that gate receipts from the tie ordered to be replayed shall be retained by Tilbury FC with St Neots Town FC also responsible for their own travel costs."